Unionists in Tamil Nadu demand protection of migrant workers

06 April 2016 11:51

Indian authorities must do more to protect the rights of workers abroad.
This message was delivered at a trade union conference in Chennai in
South Indian state Tamil Nadu organized by the construction workers’
union TKTMS. More than 200 union members including 120 women had
gathered for the meeting that was held in conjunction with the
International Migrants’ Day on the 18th of December.

Returnee migrants were also invited to share their experiences and
spread awareness among the workers on how to protect their rights.
Representatives from the Migrant Workers Rights Coalition (MRC) which is
a State-level coalition of five major organisations including TKTMS,
addressed the meeting. The role of Government was viewed as highly
significant to curb the violations arising at the time of recruitment
and also upon return and reintegration with the society. The meeting
strongly urged the MRC to engage political parties on the issue of
international migration and make it a political agenda especially as the
state elections are due in 2016.

Following this, on 23rd December 2015, the TKTMS organised a high-level
conference with the political parties at the State Capital – Chennai.
Senior leaders from the five major political parties were present at
this meeting.

“We urge the political parties to take up the issues of workers who
out-migrate in large numbers and are left on their own without any
support, even from their own State. It is not only our responsibility to
ensure safe migration but also the Government needs to invest in
creating decent employment opportunities in Tamil Nadu State so that
migration is borne out of informed choices and is not a socio-economic
compulsion,” said Ponkumar, president of TKTMS.

A number of issues including overcharging by recruitment agencies,
inadequate migrant workers’ data maintenance at the village and district
level, need for restoring the Non-Residents Tamil Welfare Board in the
State and the Tamil Nadu Academy for Construction for skill development
were emphasized.